The presidential campaign of 1860 was the occasion
for massive, emotionally charged political parades.
An observer noted that a torchlight procession in
Chicago for Abraham Lincoln was undoubtedly
the largest and most imposing thing of its kind
ever witnessed in that city. Estimates placed
the number of participants at ten thousand. Throughout
the entire procession, marchers carried torches
similar to this one, as well as banners and transparencies
bearing portraits of Lincoln and Republican Party
mottos.

Division of Social History, Political History
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian
Institution
Behring Center
Gift of Carl Haverlin